Day 142

     Chemo is crazy.  It is unbelievable what a difference one week can make.  Scott called me yesterday morning before Katie and I left for the clinic and said he wanted to meet us there.  I told him I didn't think she was going to make counts - which she didn't.  However unbeknown to me, her chemo treatments yesterday were not count dependent - she got the chemo anyway.  (Next time, her chemo is count dependent - different types of chemo, different protocols). 
     Yesterday morning as Katie was still sleeping, I looked in on her, and her color was so off, she was very pale.  After she woke up, I could tell she didn't have any energy.  I found her at one point, laying on the floor in her bedroom, I asked her if she felt okay, and she said she didn't feel good.  At this point last week, she was so energized and vibrant.  This week she is pale and lethargic.  Last night, I thought she looked like Casper the Ghost - with her little bald head, big eyes and she is so pale, she is white!  She looked so good last week and this week she looks sick.  She is sick.  It is heartbreaking!
     Last week her white blood count was 13.6, yesterday it was 2.0 (4.0-12.0 is normal).  Last week her red blood count was 4.47, yesterday it was 3.88 (4.00-5.30 is normal).  Her hemoglobin last week was 12.8, yesterday it was 10.9 (11.5-14.5 is normal).  Last week her platelets were 502, yesterday they were 317 (normal is 140-450).  Her ANC (immune system) last week was 6,392, yesterday it was 180!  So everything has gone down and she is lower than "normal" in everything except platelets.  Her levels were so high last week in part because of the steroids - for some reason, they make her weak, but they do bring her levels up.  Dr. Dana said her levels should come up again because she is back on the steroids.  However, If her hemoglobin drops any lower, she will need a blood transfusion.  But for now, she is feeling pretty lousy.  Her tummy was hurting her all afternoon and evening and she says, "I don't feel good".  As crazy as chemo is....and it is....I am glad there is a treatment for Katie!
     "For I the Lord God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee" (Isaiah 41:13).  We are excited for General Conference to be on TV this Saturday and Sunday, so we hear our prophet and apostles speak!  Conference is always a boost - spiritually and emotionally.